Before my week of vacation in
November, one could say I was a “Grumpy Bear” or
some might think of worse names. I, along with the
rest of the world, felt so tired of all this covid
stuff, election ads endlessly on tv with no message
except blaming their opponents. Scrolling on
Facebook has become a painful process due to angry
comments that most people wouldn’t dare to say to
someone’s face, but feel just fine with “comments.”
We’re getting tired and weary of the rules and
enforcing the rules for safety, for our health, for our wellbeing.
We’re so very tired of the worry of all the “What will happen if…?”
And, we are just plain lonely and miss our family and friends. And
now, our numbers of cases are soaring and we’re back under strict
mitigations, again, just in time for the holidays… which will now
also be subdued. Weariness and fear seem to rule our days.
And yet, we are God’s people! Whether you go to a church building
for worship or not, we believe all people are God’s people. You are
a marvelous creation of God! And we mean it. No matter what.
Therefore, in these days of isolation, we don’t have to be ruled by
weariness and/or fear. There’s a difference between being ruled by
those feelings and having those feelings. We ALL have those
feelings. We really cannot escape it right now. As humans, made in
the image of God, means we can control how we cope with our
emotions.
We who are God’s people, (and remember, I said that means you) need
to guard our hearts and souls at this time when we feel those
feelings. We need to remember NOT to let THEM rule us! If we allow
our hearts and minds and souls to be ruled by God’s peace, God’s
love, God’s faith, God’s hope, God’s justice, God’s kindness and
God’s gentleness... we can get through this, together, as God’s own
people.
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 I’m not saying we won’t feel weary or tired or
frustrated or upset at times. And I am not even saying bad things
won’t happen to us, for evil rains on everyone at times (that’s
another article).
Bad things happen to everyone. But we don’t have
to allow the most negative feelings to rule who we are and what we
do and how we act and how we respond to others.
It’s easy to be a “Grumpy Bear,” but it makes our
lives better and everyone around us feels better if we can choose
those ways of God that Jesus taught us to choose, even in the face
of evil. This Advent and Christmas season, as we ready our hearts
for the birth of Christ, make room in your heart for these wonders
of God! Choose them. Live them! Have Yourself a Merry Christmas,
even if it’s just in moments! Even now, let us sing (in our own
homes or outside), “Joy to the World!”
- Peace, Rev. Laurie Hill
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